Carroll Digest

CARROLL COUNTY DIGEST

February 11, 2005

Meeting Feb. 24 to discuss proposed senior center

The Carroll County Bureau of Aging will sponsor a community informational meeting on the proposed new South Carroll Senior Center at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Oakland Mills United Methodist Church Hall on Oakland Mills Road.

The bureau has notified adjoining property owners of the $3 million project set for construction next year on 10 acres near Mineral Hill and Oklahoma roads. Information: 410-848- 4049.

Softball tournaments set to begin March 19

The Carroll County Sports Complex on Route 97 north of Westminster is preparing for its busiest tournament schedule ever.

It has scheduled softball tournaments on weekends beginning March 19 and running through Oct. 9.

"We may begin by throwing snowballs instead of softballs, but we are not turning anyone away," said Jeff Degitz, bureau chief of the county Department of Recreation and Parks. "The facility is quite a draw, and it is bringing money into the county. We will have local, state, regional and some national tournaments."

In other business, Degitz reported that state funds for recreation were reduced again this year. The county will receive about $400,000. Full funding would have added $2 million to county recreation services.

"This is making it extremely difficult for us," Degitz said. "We have not received full funding since 2001."

The survey has been conducted annually for the past three years to assist the county in applying for grants and understanding the services needed by the homeless.

The survey identified 126 homeless people - 99 adults and 27 children. This number was up from last year's count of 116.

The homeless adults were asked to complete a survey about their need for services and their background.

Results of the survey found that:

Men make up 65 percent of the total.

The disabled make up 65 percent of the total.

Almost half (47 percent) have been homeless more than six months, and 53 percent have been homeless more than once in the past three years.

Twenty-six were chronically homeless (defined as a disabled individual without a spouse or partner who has been homeless for more than one year or homeless more than four times in the past three years).